Whistler

Like many authors, Ann Patchett’s novels have morphed as she’s gotten older from plot-driven to more focused on characters and relationships. For readers looking for another Bel Canto, this may be disappointing, but I am enjoying her thoughtful examinations of life. Whistler falls squarely into the second camp, without a lot of plot, but a gorgeously drawn picture of life in middle age, looking back at childhood and forward at death. Daphne Fuller’s chance encounter with Eddie, her favorite but briefest step-father, whose disappearance from her life left a large hole and many questions, forces her to revisit the past. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great stories in this book, but overall, it is an exploration of marriage, show more growing old, death, and family, and maybe because I’m a middle-aged woman myself, I loved it. show less

Whistler by Ann Patchett is an exceptional, very highly recommended character-driven literary family drama which will definitely be one of the best books I've read this year. In Whistler Patchett has given us a beautifully written, eloquent, insightful and sensitive story encompassing the complexity of families, connections, and relationships over time. I love everything about this book.

As they were visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Daphne Fuller's retired husband Jonathan notices an older man following them and they discover he is Eddie Triplett, Daphne's former stepfather. She hasn't seen him for 44 years but immediately remembers her love for him and the bond they had for a couple years. The two also shared a traumatic show more experience when she was nine and they were in a car accident. Immediately after this Daphne's mother divorced Eddie and he disappeared from her life. After this chance meeting and reconnection, Daphne immediately and understandably needs to see and tell her younger sister, Leda, about it.

The sisters had a complicated childhood that Daphne never felt was very happy. Daphne and Leda's biological father, Buddy Zabriskie, was a deep-sea fisherman and left the family early, although the girls had a relationship with him. Then their mother married Eddie and both girls loved him for the brief time he was in their lives. Their third and final stepfather, Lucas Ekker, still lives with her mother in Massachusetts and they had two sons. The two sisters were done with stepfathers at this point.

As the narrative unfolds, Daphne and Eddie continue to meet and restore their relationship as father and daughter, but now as adults. While following the present day events, Interstitial chapters jump back in time when Eddie was her stepfather and cover the events from when they were in the car accident. It is during these interludes back in time that were learn the story of Whistler and also see the deep connection between Eddie and Daphne. Events in both the past and present show how complicated interpersonal relationships are, how little we truly understand of our past, and, ultimately, how fragile life can be.

Because this is a character-driven story, all the characters are portrayed as realistic, fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses. The narrative examines relationships, choices made in both the past and present and how many seemingly small and inconsequential moments can follow us our whole lives. It also gently shows how being recognized and understood by another person, even for a short period of time, can change your life and theirs.

Whistler by Ann Patchett is a wonderful choice for everyone who enjoys thoughtful, sensitive, character-driven literary novels. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8581040503 show less

Ty Net Galley for the ARC! I really enjoyed this one! So, I don't know where I though this story was going at first 👀 but let's just say my train of thought at first was not as wholesome as the story actually is. (It kinda feels like maybe this was done one purpose? I definitely need someone else to discuss with me so I can determine whether or not that was just me.) This story was so moving and really had me in my feelings by the end. I really want to lay out my thoughts without spoiling any of the details, but it feels really hard right now 😂 I'll do my best though. Daphne spends much of the book recollecting her childhood while reconnecting with her ex step-father, Eddie. A life-changing event happened when she was nine that show more changed everything for them. As a child, Daphne feels like Eddie is her true father because they just have so much in common (big readers), and their love for each other only becomes deeper after this tragic incident. However, it caused a rift to form between Eddie and Daphne's mother (among other things), which is the reason for their separation early in her life. When they finally meet again later in life, they share their memories of the past including why Daphne thought Eddie had been driven away. I can absolutely feel the joy that comes from their reunion; it feels like a warm hug that you just needed 🤗 They really do have a dreamlike, perfect father-daughter relationship that I am quite jealous of myself. The way that they cared so deeply for and about each other made for a really heartfelt read about memories and family that truly care for each other. If this sounds like your kind of read, then I definitely recommend. I apologize if this review sounds really disjointed (it does to me) 😬 but I don't think I can edit it anymore without driving myself crazy... I truly did love this one though! show less

I don’t seem to get as excited about Ann Patchett books as other people. Her writing is good but I find it very mellow—very even keeled without a Ron of building plot or tension. This book had a lot of reflection on life and death and aging parents which was interesting and it was an enjoyable read. But the slow reveal of the backstory was very … slow and predictable.

A big hearted story of families, told with love, empathy for human failings and humour. Sentimental, but not too much for me.
I’ve read a couple of other books by Patchett, so I knew I would be in a safe pair of hands, and although this story is unlike her others in subject matter, it carried the same emotional heft.
Oh, it’s literary too (one character teaches English and another edits books), so that it’s even better (and yes, I accept that I am a cultural snob).

I received a Netgalley copy of this book, but this review is my honest opinion.